Bucket List / Adventure Travel Goals
Walk The Great Wall
Still to do
Climb worn stone stairs between watchtowers as the wall snakes over the ridges ahead, as far as you can see.
The adventure
The Great Wall isn't one wall but many, built and rebuilt over two thousand years, and the most famous stretches date from the Ming dynasty. From Beijing you can be on it within a couple of hours, climbing worn stone steps between watchtowers as the wall rides the ridgelines like the spine of a dragon, dipping into valleys and soaring up slopes so steep you use your hands.
At restored Mutianyu, the views run for miles across forested hills, and you can ride a chairlift up and a toboggan down. Further out, Jinshanling has crumbling towers, grassy sections and far fewer people, especially early in the morning when mist fills the valleys. Walk far enough and the crowds fall away completely, leaving just the wind, the birds and the wall itself snaking towards the horizon. Come in autumn and the hills on either side turn red and gold.
Why it’s epic
- Walking a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose many walls have been measured at more than 20,000 kilometres in total.
- Mutianyu's restored watchtowers, with a chairlift up and a toboggan ride back down.
- Quieter, partly ruined stretches such as Jinshanling, lined with watchtowers.
- Autumn colour across the hills in October.
What it is
The Great Wall of China stretches thousands of kilometres.
How to do it
From Beijing, visit restored sections such as Mutianyu, or hike wilder parts like Jinshanling to Simatai.
Top tip
Avoid Badaling at weekends; it's the most crowded section.
Need to know
- Spring and autumn are best, as summer is hot and hazy and winter is icy but quiet.
- Avoid Chinese national holidays, especially the first week of October, when popular sections are packed.
- China has widened its visa-free and transit options in recent years, so check the current rules for UK passports before booking.
- Unrestored wild sections can be steep and loose, so wear proper shoes and stick to areas open to visitors.
Plan this trip
- Rough cost
- £750 to £2,000 per person, including flights from the UK
- Time needed
- 1 day to several weeks
- Best time to go
- April to May, September to October
- Fly into
- PEK airport
A day trip from Beijing is cheap; multi-day hikes and getting to China make up most of the cost.
Make it happen
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Why it’s on my list
Not done yet. If you’ve done it and have tips, tell me about it.
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